Mona Chammas

There was a time when the shopping mall was considered "innovation in retail", the sequel to the souks and bazaars of Damascus and Tehran pre-19th century. Wikipedia tells us that the first purposefully built shopping mall was Gostiny Dvor in St. Petersburg, built in 1785. Today, we have technology to thank for the latest entry in to the retail domain: immersive online shopping.

Mona is founder and CEO of Geeky Chic, Inc. and Editor in Chief of The Genteel.
The Genteel is Mona's brainchild, stemming from the editorial spirit she picked up while watching her father’s printing press in action as a child. Mona's vision for The Genteel is drawn from her experience as a brand strategist, and a zeal for high quality magazines. The Genteel is distinguished by its international focus and unique, multi-contextual approach to fashion and design.
Having lived in various cities, Mona is dedicated to publishing local stories, big or small, that might otherwise go unnoticed. She steers her vision for The Genteel as a global media brand through innovative media models and collaborative projects.

Parisian women have long been regarded as the ultimate symbols of elegance and chic. But is this, in fact, a reality? Photographer Baudouin(yes, a one name wonder) sets out to uncover the world of Parisian women, resulting in the eclectic photo series, 75 Parisiennes.

Couture designers will go to great lengths to tell a story. On the runway, sky-high heels routinely help deliver whimsical plotlines - no matter how impractical they appear. Meanwhile, outrageous, experimental archetypes are elevating street style around the world. But could you withstand the pain?

When we consider the tumultuous time of World War I (WWI), our thoughts naturally gravitate towards the grief and conflict that plagued the lives of those involved. But what has yet to be universally noted is that the war also brought one of the most fruitful art movements of our time.

F. Scott Fitzgerald, Vladimir Nabokov, Jackson Pollock, Alfred Hitchcock and Man Ray: men who have shaped the arts in the 20th century. But look closely at their shadows, and you'll see their unsung partners, better halves, and, in many cases, worst enemies - in female form.

A tug of war is playing out on the design front in Lebanon. On one end of the proverbial rope are local designers, artisans and champions for quality and one-of-a-kind products, from furniture, architecture to jewelry. The other end observes defenders of the status quo: trendy, mass-produced goods hailing from Europe and North America. Ghita Abi-Hanna of the eponymous label, Margherita, plays for team Made in Lebanon.

The Genteel editors on what we're seeing, doing, reading and anticipating for the week ahead. A Christian Louboutin retrospective; Sotheby's expands to Hong Kong; a film adaptation of a Jack Kerouac novel competes at Cannes; and behind the scenes journey of your luggage.

Recount the steps you would take to make a nice, hot cup of tea. You brew the tea, and while it's still hot, you might stir in some sugar. In a newfound world of making clothes, the same ritual applies, with a dollop of live organisms.

Quality design, brand heritage and craftsmanship are rising stars in today's fashion landscape, with the pragmatic buyer at the helm. This collective of early adopters are shedding much more socially conscious buying patterns.

The Genteel editors on what we're seeing, doing, reading and anticipating for the week ahead. Olympic fashion in London; Hipster Olympics in Berlin; ad-busting in Toronto; a satirical Vogue profile of North Korea's First Lady, and more.

With Christmas just round the corner, Grace Carter and I team up with Inverted Edge to help those of you making a mad dash to the gift giving finish line. Our selection ensures every wardrobe crisis is covered, from dressing up for the Christmas Party to styling down during the New Year.

The Genteel editors on what we're seeing, doing, reading and anticipating for the week ahead. V&A Museum does ballgowns; the week of Elsa Schiaparelli - including in books; Barneys saved from its debts; and is the Met Gala becoming fashion's biggest PR machine?

The Genteel editors on what we're seeing, doing, reading and anticipating for the week ahead. Heatherwick Retrospective; the first go-around for London Collections: Men; when looks could, in fact, kill; Seoul design; and style in 1952, when Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne.

The Genteel editors on what we're seeing, doing, reading and anticipating for the week ahead. Fashion and Design Weeks in London, Vancouver and Vienna; A closer look behind Men Atop a Skyscraper; Fashion Darling Burberry plunges; fashion and food pair up again, and more.

The Genteel editors on what we're seeing, doing, reading and anticipating for the week ahead. Double dipping in the National Ballet of Canada and artist and fashion designer collaborations; milking the fashion industry; and Chap Olympiads.

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A worldwide collective of contributors currently form The Genteel. On a daily basis our team dispatches thought-provoking and insightful articles from the streets of Oslo, Toronto, Beirut, Moscow, United Arab Emirates, Seoul and beyond.